Inkjet printer

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that suppresses the spread of leaked ink or cleaning liquid when a refill container of ink or cleaning liquid is assembled or in the case where leakage of ink or cleaning liquid occurs after assembly. An inkjet printer (10) is provided with an assembly portion (100) that can attach and detach an ink refill container (C1) that stores ink or an assembly portion (150) that can attach and detach a cleaning liquid refill container (C2) that stores cleaning liquid. The assembly portion (100) is provided with a housing portion (110) that houses the ink refill container (C1), a connection portion (120) that is provided inside the housing portion (110) and is connected to the ink refill container (C1), and a tray (130) that is disposed inside the housing portion (110) and below the connection portion (120).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to inkjet printers. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, inkjet printers that print images onto recording media using an inkjet method were known. Among inkjet printers, some use ink cartridges or similar devices to replenish ink. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet printer that can be loaded and unloaded with an ink cartridge filled with ink. The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1 includes a waste liquid receiver integrated with the ink cartridge. According to Patent Document 1, it is believed that ink waste liquid dripping from purging processes can be recovered using the waste liquid receiver.

[0003] Additionally, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses an inkjet printer with a wiper having a nozzle surface for wiping ink heads. The inkjet printer described in Patent Document 2 has a cleaning tank containing cleaning fluid for immersing the wiper.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-19150

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-40650 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] Herein is provided an inkjet printer that can suppress the spread of leaked ink or cleaning fluid when assembling a replenishment container containing accumulated ink or cleaning fluid, or in the event of ink or cleaning fluid leakage after assembly.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] The inkjet printer disclosed herein includes: an ink head having a nozzle surface with nozzles formed thereon; and an assembly portion capable of receiving and removing an ink refill container or a cleaning fluid refill container, wherein the ink refill container stores ink ejected from the nozzles, and the cleaning fluid refill container stores cleaning fluid for cleaning the nozzle surface. The assembly portion includes: a receiving portion for receiving the ink refill container or the cleaning fluid refill container; a connecting portion disposed inside the receiving portion and connected to the ink refill container or the cleaning fluid refill container; and a tray disposed inside the receiving portion and below the connecting portion.

[0012] According to the inkjet printer described above, even if ink or cleaning fluid leaks from the connector into the receiving section when or after the ink refill container or cleaning fluid refill container is connected to the connector, the leaked ink or cleaning fluid will be collected in a tray located inside the receiving section and below the connector. Therefore, the diffusion of leaked ink or cleaning fluid to the outside of the assembly section can be prevented. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a front view of a printer according to one embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a plan view showing the structure of the lower surface of the carriage.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a partial sectional 3D view of the ink cartridge assembly.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge assembly.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional view of the ink tray when viewed from above.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional view of the ink tray when viewed from below.

[0019] Figure 7 It is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of multiple ink cartridge assembly parts and drain containers viewed from below.

[0020] Figure 8 This is a partial sectional perspective view of the cleaning fluid box assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Hereinafter, an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as "printer") according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are not intended to specifically limit the present invention. Furthermore, components and parts that perform the same function are labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are appropriately omitted or simplified.

[0022] [Printer Structure]

[0023] Figure 1 This is a front view of the printer 10 according to this embodiment. In the following description, left, right, top, and bottom refer to left, right, top, and bottom as viewed from the front of the printer 10, respectively. Furthermore, the direction from the rear of the printer 10 towards the operator when the operator is facing the front of the printer 10 is defined as "front," and the direction from the operator towards the rear of the printer 10 is defined as "rear." The reference numerals F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the accompanying drawings represent front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively.

[0024] Printer 10 prints on recording medium 5. Recording medium 5 is, for example, recording paper. However, recording medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. In addition to paper types such as ordinary paper and inkjet printing paper, recording medium 5 also includes media formed of resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyester, media formed of metal plates such as aluminum and iron, glass plates, wood boards, and corrugated paper.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the printer 10 includes a table 15, a carriage 20, multiple ink heads 25 mounted on the carriage 20, a carriage moving device 30, a transport device 40 for the recording medium 5, a wiping device 50 for wiping the ink heads 25, and a wiping cleaner device 60. The printer body 11 houses the table 15, the carriage 20, the multiple ink heads 25, the carriage moving device 30, the transport device 40, the wiping device 50, and the wiping cleaner device 60.

[0026] The stage 15 is a support platform for the recording medium 5. The stage 15 extends in the left-right and front-back directions. The carriage 20 is disposed above the stage 15. The ink head 25 is disposed on the carriage 20 and sprays ink downwards. Thus, ink is sprayed onto the recording medium 5 placed on the stage 15. The ink sprayed from the ink head 25 is not particularly limited. The ink sprayed from the ink head 25 can be, for example, solvent-based pigment ink, water-based ink, photocurable ink (e.g., UV-curable pigment ink that cures under ultraviolet light, so-called UV ink), etc.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a plan view showing the structure of the lower surface of the carriage 20. (See diagram below.) Figure 2 As shown, multiple ink heads 25 are arranged in a left-right direction. Each ink head 25 has a nozzle surface 25a with multiple nozzles 26 for ejecting ink. Here, the nozzle surface 25a is the lower surface of the ink head 25. In each ink head 25, multiple nozzles 26 are arranged in a front-back direction to form a nozzle array 26a. Ink ejected from the nozzles 26 exits from the ink cartridge C1 (see reference 1). Figure 1 Ink cartridge C1 is an example of an ink replenishment container that stores ink ejected from nozzle 26. In this embodiment, the ink of one ink cartridge C1 is ejected from nozzle 26 of one nozzle row 26a. When the ink in ink cartridge C1 is consumed, the ink cartridge C1 is replaced. As will be described later, multiple ink cartridges C1 can be installed in the printer 10.

[0028] The carriage moving device 30 moves the carriage 20 in the left-right direction. For example... Figure 1As shown, the carriage moving device 30 includes a guide rail 31, left and right pulleys 32, an annular belt 33, and a scanning motor 34. The guide rail 31 is positioned above the table 15. The guide rail 31 extends in the left-right direction. The carriage 20 is configured to move in the left-right direction along the guide rail 31. The belt 33 is fixed to the carriage 20. The belt 33 is wound around the left and right pulleys 32. The scanning motor 34 is connected to one of the pulleys 32. Driven by the scanning motor 34, one of the pulleys 32 rotates, and the belt 33 moves. Thus, the carriage 20 moves in the left-right direction. The ink head 25 moves together with the carriage 20 in the left-right direction.

[0029] The transport device 40 moves the recording medium 5 in the back-and-forth direction. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the conveying device 40 includes an abrasive roller 41 and a pinch roller 42. The abrasive roller 41 is embedded in the platform 15. A portion of each abrasive roller 41 protrudes from the platform 15. The conveying device 40 includes a feed motor (not shown) that rotates the abrasive roller 41. The pinch roller 42 presses the recording medium 5 from above. The pinch roller 42 is positioned above the abrasive roller 41. The pinch roller 42 is positioned opposite the abrasive roller 41. The pinch roller 42 is configured to move in the vertical direction. With the recording medium 5 sandwiched between the abrasive roller 41 and the pinch roller 42, if the feed motor drives the abrasive roller 41 to rotate, the recording medium 5 is conveyed in the front-back direction.

[0030] The wiping device 50 wipes the nozzle surface 25a of the ink head 25. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the wiping device 50 includes a wiper 51 for wiping the ink head 25 and a wiper moving device 52. The wiper 51 is a plate-shaped member extending in the left-right and up-down directions. The upper end of the wiper 51 is located slightly above the nozzle surface 25a of the ink head 25. The wiper 51 is made of, for example, rubber. The wiper moving device 52 moves the wiper 51 in the front-back direction. By moving the wiper 51 in the front-back direction by the wiper moving device 52, the nozzle surface 25a of the ink head 25 is wiped by the wiper 51. However, the structure of the wiping device 50 is not limited to the structure described above. For example, the wiping device 50 may also be configured to wipe the ink head 25 in the left-right direction by moving the carriage 20 in the left-right direction.

[0031] The wiper cleaning device 60 cleans the wiper 51, removing ink that has adhered to the wiper 51 by wiping it with the ink head 25. In this embodiment, the wiper cleaning device 60 removes the ink adhering to the wiper 51 by dripping cleaning fluid onto the wiper 51. As a result, the wiper device 50 uses the cleaning fluid supplied to the wiper 51 by the wiper cleaning device 60 to clean the nozzle surface 25a of the ink head 25. The cleaning fluid is also a cleaning fluid for cleaning the nozzle surface 25a of the ink head 25. However, the cleaning fluid may also be a liquid that only cleans the wiper 51. Figure 1As shown, the wiper cleaning device 60 is connected to the cleaning fluid tank assembly 150, which will be described later. The wiper cleaning device 60 drips cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank C2 assembled in the cleaning fluid tank assembly 150 onto the wiper 51. Cleaning fluid accumulates in the cleaning fluid tank C2.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the wiper cleaning device 60 includes a cleaning fluid supply passage 61 connected to the cleaning fluid tank assembly 150 and a pump 62 for delivering cleaning fluid into the cleaning fluid supply passage 61. The cleaning fluid supply passage 61 has a connection portion 152 connected to the cleaning fluid tank assembly 150 (see also...). Figure 8 The cleaning fluid supply section 60 has an inlet end 61a and an outlet end 61b that opens towards the wiper 51. The connecting part 152 of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 is a mechanism for connecting to the cleaning fluid cartridge C2. The cleaning fluid supplied from the cleaning fluid cartridge C2 and delivered by the delivery pump 62 flows within the cleaning fluid supply path 61. The cleaning fluid supply path 61 is, for example, a pipe. However, the cleaning fluid supply path 61 is not limited to a pipe. The outlet end 61b of the cleaning fluid supply path 61 is fixed in such a way that the cleaning fluid flowing out from here drips directly onto the wiper 51. In addition to the cleaning fluid supply path 61 and the delivery pump 62, the wiper cleaning device 60 may also include, for example, a valve.

[0033] However, the structure of the wiper cleaning device 60 is not limited to the structure described above. For example, the wiper cleaning device 60 may also be configured to supply cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid cartridge C2 into the cleaning liquid container, and to clean the wiper 51 by immersing it in the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid container.

[0034] [Structure of the ink cartridge assembly section]

[0035] The following describes the structure of the ink cartridge assembly section 100 for assembling ink cartridge C1 and the structure of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly section 150 for assembling cleaning fluid cartridge C2. First, the structure of the ink cartridge assembly section 100 will be described.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the printer 10 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of ink cartridge assembly sections 100. One ink cartridge C1 is assembled in each ink cartridge assembly section 100. The plurality of ink cartridge assembly sections 100 are disposed in the upper left portion of the printer body 11. The plurality of ink cartridge assembly sections 100 are arranged in a left-right direction. The ink cartridge C1 is inserted into the ink cartridge assembly section 100 from the front. However, the position of the ink cartridge assembly section 100 is not limited to the position described above. The insertion direction of the ink cartridge C1 is also not particularly limited.

[0037] The ink cartridge C1 has a housing containing a bag for storing ink and a receiving bag. The ink cartridge C1 is generally rectangular in shape. However, the ink refill container is not limited to such an ink cartridge C1; for example, it can also be a bag or bottle that is not contained within the housing.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a partial sectional perspective view of the ink cartridge assembly section 100. Figure 4 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge assembly section 100. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The diagram only shows one ink cartridge assembly unit 100. Figure 3 The diagram shows the cartridge assembly section 100 in the state where the cartridge C1 is not installed. Figure 4 The diagram shows the ink cartridge assembly 100 with ink cartridge C1 installed. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the ink cartridge assembly 100 is configured to accommodate and remove ink cartridge C1. The ink cartridge assembly 100 includes a box-shaped storage section 110 for housing the ink cartridge C1 and a connecting section 120 disposed inside the storage section 110 and connected to the ink cartridge C1 housed therein. The shape of the storage section 110 corresponds to that of the ink cartridge C1. The connecting section 120 is connected to the ink head 25 (see also ink supply path S1) via the ink supply path S1. Figure 1 The ink supply path S1 includes, for example, a flexible tube. Here, the connecting part 120 has a hollow needle 121 that passes through the pouch of the ink cartridge C1 and allows the ink inside the pouch to pass through.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the storage section 110 includes a bottom surface 110D, a left side surface 110L, a right side surface 110R, a top surface 110U, and a rear surface 110Rr. The left side surface 110L and the right side surface 110R are connected to the left and right ends of the bottom surface 110D, respectively, and extend upwards. The rear surface 110Rr is connected to the rear end of the bottom surface 110D and extends upwards. The top surface 110U is connected to the upper ends of the left side surface 110L, the right side surface 110R, and the rear surface 110Rr. The top surface 110U is opposite to the bottom surface 110D. One side surface of the storage section 110 (here, the front surface) forms an insertion port 111 for inserting the ink cartridge C1. However, the structure of the wall of the storage section 110 is not limited to the structure described above. For example, the storage section 110 may also have an incomplete box-like shape, for example, without a top surface. The storage section 110 is not particularly limited as long as it has a bottom surface 110D, is able to accommodate at least a portion of the ink cartridge C1, and is able to be provided with a connecting portion 120. The bottom surface 110D may not be formed covering the entire lower surface of the storage section 110, or it may be formed only on a portion of the lower surface of the storage section 110.

[0040] like Figure 3As shown, the storage section 110 includes a first leaf spring 115 to prevent the ink cartridge C1 housed inside from falling out and a second leaf spring 116 to press the ink cartridge C1. The first leaf spring 115 is provided on the top surface 110U. A portion of the first leaf spring 115 passes through the top surface 110U. The first leaf spring 115 protrudes into the internal space of the storage section 110. When the ink cartridge C1 moves in the direction of disassembly from the storage section 110 (in this case, when it moves forward), the first leaf spring 115 contacts a portion of the ink cartridge C1, preventing the ink cartridge C1 from accidentally falling out of the storage section 110. The second leaf spring 116 is provided on the left side surface 110L of the storage section 110. Two second leaf springs 116 are provided on the upper side and two on the lower side of the left side surface 110L. A portion of the second leaf spring 116 passes through the left side surface 110L. The second leaf spring 116 protrudes into the internal space of the storage section 110. The second leaf spring 116 presses the ink cartridge C1 to the right. As a result, the ink cartridge C1 can be positioned in a predetermined position in the left-right direction within the storage section 110.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, needle 121 is disposed on the rear surface 110Rr of the storage section 110. By inserting ink cartridge C1 into the storage section 110 through the insertion port 111 and pushing it to the rear until needle 121 punctures the pouch, ink cartridge C1 and connecting part 120 are connected. Ink cartridge C1 and connecting part 120 are connected inside the storage section 110.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, the ink cartridge assembly 100 according to this embodiment includes an ink tray 130 capable of holding ink. The ink tray 130 is disposed inside the storage section 110 and below the connecting section 120. Here, the ink tray 130 rests on the bottom surface 110D of the storage section 110. The bottom surface 110D of the storage section 110 is an example of the mounting surface for the ink tray 130. The ink tray 130 receives leaked ink when ink is leaked from the connecting section 120 during or after the connection of the ink cartridge C1 to the connecting section 120. Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the ink tray 130 viewed from above. Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the ink tray 130 viewed from below. (Example) Figure 5 As shown, the ink tray 130 has a recessed portion 130A that is recessed downwards and capable of holding ink. The recessed portion 130A is divided by a bottom surface 130B located below the connecting portion 120 and receiving ink, and a side wall 130S extending upwards from around the bottom surface 130B. Here, the ink tray 130 is formed of a resin, such as POM, that is resistant to ink.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, the ink tray 130 has multiple engaging protrusions 131 disposed on the left and right sides. Figure 3As shown, engaging holes 112 for engaging protrusions 131 are formed on the left side 110L and right side 110R of the storage portion 110, respectively (only the two engaging holes 112L formed on the left side of the left side 110L are shown). The two engaging protrusions 131L on the left side are engaged into the two left-side engaging holes 112L formed on the left side 110L of the storage portion 110. The three engaging protrusions 131R on the right side are engaged into the three right-side engaging holes (not shown) formed on the right side 110R of the storage portion 110. The ink tray 130 is fixed to the storage portion 110 by means of the elasticity of its material, namely resin. The engaging protrusions 131 are also part of the ink tray 130 and are formed of resin. The engaging holes 112 are examples of engaging portions formed on the inner side of the storage portion 110 for engaging with the engaging protrusions 131. Here, the engaging portion is an engaging hole 112 that extends through the left side 110L and the right side 110R in the left-right direction. However, the engaging portion is not limited to a through hole; for example, it can also be a non-through recess.

[0044] like Figure 5 As shown, the bottom surface 130B of the receiving section 130A has a bottom surface 132 located at the lowest point within the receiving section 130A and an inclined surface 133 that slopes downward from the side wall 130S toward the bottom surface 132. The inclined surface 133 is connected to the bottom surface 132. As a result, ink leaking from the connecting section 120 and falling onto the bottom surface 130B collects at the bottom surface 132. Here, the bottom surface 132 is located at the center in the left-right direction of the ink tray 130 and slightly behind the centerline in the front-back direction. An ink discharge port 136 is provided at the bottom surface 132 for ink discharge. The bottom surface 132 is constructed flat in a manner that facilitates the formation of the discharge port 136.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, the inclined surface 133 includes a first inclined surface 134L on the left side, connected to the left end of the bottom layer 132 and extending to the left from the bottom layer 132, and a first inclined surface 134R on the right side, connected to the right end of the bottom layer 132 and extending to the right from the bottom layer 132. Both the first inclined surface 134L on the left and the first inclined surface 134R on the right extend in a strip-like shape. The first inclined surface 134L on the left slopes downwards to the right, with its right end connected to the left end of the bottom layer 132. The first inclined surface 134R on the right slopes downwards to the left, with its left end connected to the right end of the bottom layer 132.

[0046] The inclined surface 133 further includes a second inclined surface 135F disposed forward of the first inclined surfaces 134L and 134R and connected to the front side of the first inclined surfaces 134L and 134R, and a second inclined surface 135Rr disposed rearward of the first inclined surfaces 134L and 134R and connected to the rear side of the first inclined surfaces 134L and 134R. The second inclined surface 135F on the front side slopes downward toward the rear, and its rear end is connected to the front end of the first inclined surfaces 134L and 134R. The second inclined surface 135Rr on the rear side slopes downward toward the front, and its front end is connected to the rear end of the first inclined surfaces 134L and 134R.

[0047] like Figure 5 As shown, the ink tray 130 includes a support portion 137 that supports the lower surface of the ink cartridge C1 housed in the storage section 110. The support portion 137 protrudes upward beyond the second inclined surfaces 135F and 135Rr. The support portion 137 is formed at the center of the ink tray 130 in the left-right direction and extends in the front-back direction. The second inclined surface 135F on the front side and the second inclined surface 135Rr on the rear side are respectively cut off by the support portion 137 on the left and right sides. On the other hand, the support portion 137 is broken at the bottom 132, dividing it into front and back sections.

[0048] In this embodiment, the support portion 137 also functions as a guide supporting the lower surface of the ink cartridge C1 when it is inserted from the insertion port 111 into the storage portion 110. The support portion 137 extends in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge C1, i.e., the front-to-back direction, when it is inserted from the insertion port 111 into the storage portion 110. Therefore, the support portion 137 can support the bottom of the ink cartridge C1 along the insertion direction. The width of the support portion 137 (i.e., the length in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge C1, here being the width in the left-to-right direction) is configured to be shorter than the width of the ink cartridge C1. Specifically, the support portion 137 has a roughly triangular cross-section with two vertices contacting the bottom surface 130B and another vertices located above the bottom surface 130B. The upper vertices form a ridge-shaped support line 137a extending in the front-to-back direction. The ink tray 130 uses the support line 137a to support the lower surface of the ink cartridge C1. The support portion 137 determines the height of the ink cartridge C1 relative to the connecting portion 120. By contacting the ink cartridge C1 with a line (support line 137a), the height of the ink cartridge C1 relative to the connecting portion 120 can be accurately determined. The ink cartridge C1 is pressed from above by the first leaf spring 115 and from the side by the second leaf spring 116, and is held in a stable state in both the left-right and up-down directions. In this case, if the support portion 137 has a certain width or more, the contact point with the ink cartridge C1 is not fixed, and the height of the contact point with the ink cartridge C1 will deviate. In this embodiment, the support portion 137 is configured to contact the ink cartridge C1 with a line (support line 137a). Therefore, the height of the contact point with the ink cartridge C1 will not deviate, and the ink cartridge C1 can be accurately positioned. In addition, compared with the case where the support portion 137 has a certain width or more, the frictional resistance when inserting the ink cartridge C1 into the storage portion 110 can be reduced. Therefore, the insertion operation of the ink cartridge C1 can be performed easily. In order to determine the height of the ink cartridge C1 relative to the connecting portion 120, the support portion 137 is preferably formed at least below the connecting portion 120.

[0049] The outlet 136 is located at the bottom 132 of the ink tray 130. The outlet 136 is an opening for ink to drip down. The outlet 136 extends through the ink tray 130 in the vertical direction. Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the outlet 136 is formed as a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. However, the outlet 136 may also be a simple through hole extending in the vertical direction. Figure 5 As shown, the upper end 136U of the outlet 136 opens at the bottom 132. (As indicated...) Figure 6 As shown, the lower end 136D of the outlet 136 is located below the bottom surface 130B. The lower end 136D of the outlet 136 is cut at an angle to facilitate the complete dripping of ink.

[0050] like Figure 4As shown, a through hole 113 for the outlet 136 to pass through is formed on the bottom surface 110D of the receiving portion 110. The through hole 113 is arranged to overlap with the outlet 136 in a top view and extends vertically. Here, the through hole 113 is positioned vertically, overlapping with the outlet 136 in a side view. The outlet 136 is inserted into the through hole 113. Figure 4 As shown, the outlet 136 extends below the receiving portion 110 via the through hole 113. However, the through hole 113 may also be positioned below the outlet 136.

[0051] A plurality of positioning protrusions 138 are provided on the lower surface of the ink tray 130 to position the ink tray 130 relative to the storage portion 110. The positioning protrusions 138 extend downward from the lower surface of the ink tray 130. Figure 4 As shown, the bottom surface 110D of the storage section 110 is provided with multiple positioning holes 114 for inserting multiple positioning protrusions 138. Here, the multiple positioning holes 114 penetrate the bottom surface 110D of the storage section 110 in the vertical direction. However, the positioning protrusions 138 can also be inserted into a non-penetrating recess.

[0052] Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the multiple ink cartridge assembly 100 as seen from below. For example... Figure 7 As shown, a drain container 140 is provided below the multiple ink cartridge assembly sections 100 arranged in a left-right direction. The drain container 140 receives ink dripping from the drain outlets 136 of the multiple ink cartridge assembly sections 100. The drain container 140 is located below the drain outlets 136 of the ink tray 130 and the through holes 113 of the storage section 110, and is capable of accumulating ink dripping from the drain outlets 136. The drain container 140 is arranged such that all drain outlets 136 are located inside it when viewed from above. The drain container 140 is configured to accommodate the total amount of ink accumulated in one ink cartridge C1. Therefore, even if more than half of the ink accumulated in one ink cartridge C1 spills out for some reason, all the spilled ink can be contained in the drain container 140.

[0053] [Structure of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly]

[0054] Next, the structure of the cleaning fluid container assembly 150 will be explained. For example... Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 is disposed on the right side of the printer body 11. The cleaning fluid cartridge C2 is inserted into the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 from the right. However, the position of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 is not limited to the position described above. The insertion direction of the cleaning fluid cartridge C2 is also not particularly limited.

[0055] Figure 8 This is a partial sectional perspective view of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly section 150. (See image below.) Figure 8 As shown, the cleaning solution container assembly 150 includes a cleaning solution container C2 (see reference). Figure 1 The cleaning solution assembly 150 comprises a storage section 151, a connecting section 152 disposed inside the storage section 151 and connected to the cleaning solution cartridge C2, and a cleaning solution tray 153 disposed inside the storage section 151 and below the connecting section 152. The cleaning solution tray 153 is configured to hold cleaning solution. The cleaning solution tray 153 is disposed below the connecting section 152 in a manner that allows it to accept cleaning solution leaking from the connecting section 152. A cleaning solution supply path 61 of the wiper cleaning device 60 (specifically, the inlet end 61a of the cleaning solution supply path 61) is connected to the connecting section 152. Here, the structure of the cleaning solution cartridge assembly 150 is the same as that of the ink cartridge assembly 100. However, the structure of the cleaning solution cartridge assembly 150 may also differ from that of the ink cartridge assembly 100.

[0056] like Figure 8 As shown, one end of the cleaning fluid discharge path D2 is connected to the outlet 153a of the cleaning fluid container assembly 150. The other end of the cleaning fluid discharge path D2 is connected to a waste fluid container 160 (see reference). Figure 1 The cleaning fluid discharge path D2 may include, for example, a flexible tube. In the event of a cleaning fluid leak in the receiving section 151 of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150, the leaked cleaning fluid moves to the waste fluid container 160 without being received by the discharge container. However, the discharge port 153a of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 may also be configured, similarly to the discharge port 136 of the ink cartridge assembly 100, to allow the cleaning fluid to fall into the downward-facing discharge container. In this case, the discharge port 153a of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 may also have the same structure as the discharge port 136 of the ink cartridge assembly 100.

[0057] [Effects of the Implementation Method]

[0058] The effects of the printer 10 according to this embodiment will be described below. The printer 10 according to this embodiment includes an ink printhead 25 and an ink cartridge assembly section 100 for loading and unloading an ink cartridge C1 containing ink. The ink cartridge assembly section 100 includes a storage section 110 for storing the ink cartridge C1, a connecting section 120 disposed inside the storage section 110 and connected to the ink cartridge C1, and an ink tray 130 configured to store ink and disposed inside the storage section 110 and below the connecting section 120.

[0059] According to the printer 10, even if ink leaks from the connector 120 into the storage compartment 110 when or after the ink cartridge C1 is connected to the connector 120, the leaked ink will be collected in the ink tray 130 located inside the storage compartment 110 and below the connector 120. Therefore, the diffusion of leaked ink to the outside of the storage compartment 110 can be suppressed.

[0060] Furthermore, according to this printer 10, compared to, for example, the inkjet printer described in Patent Document 1, the cost of ink cartridges can be reduced. While ink leakage from the connection point with the ink cartridge may occur, it is rare; therefore, providing ink absorbers throughout the entire consumable ink cartridge cannot be considered efficient. According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, an ink tray 130 for containing ink is provided in the ink cartridge assembly section 100. Therefore, there is no need to provide ink absorbers in the ink cartridge C1, thus reducing ink-related operating costs.

[0061] In this embodiment, the ink tray 130 includes a support portion 137 that protrudes upward and supports the lower surface of the ink cartridge C1 housed in the storage portion 110. According to this structure, the ink tray 130, which collects leaked ink, also serves to support the ink cartridge C1 within the storage portion 110. Without the need for additional support components for the ink cartridge C1, the ink tray 130 can reliably hold the ink cartridge C1 within the storage portion 110.

[0062] In this embodiment, the storage portion 110 has an insertion port 111 on its side for inserting an ink cartridge C1. The support portion 137 extends in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge C1, and its length in the width direction orthogonal to the insertion direction is shorter than that of the ink cartridge C1. According to this structure, since the support portion 137 extends in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge C1, when the ink cartridge C1 is inserted into the storage portion 110 from the insertion port 111, the bottom of the ink cartridge C1 is supported by the support portion 137 along the insertion direction. Therefore, the support portion 137 can guide the insertion of the ink cartridge C1 into the storage portion 110. Furthermore, according to this structure, the width of the support portion 137 is narrower than the width of the ink cartridge C1. Therefore, the frictional resistance when inserting the ink cartridge C1 into the storage portion 110 is reduced.

[0063] In this embodiment, the ink tray 130 has a discharge port 136 that extends vertically and allows ink to drip down. The receiving portion 110 has a bottom surface 110D that serves as a mounting surface for the ink tray 130, and a through hole 113 that extends vertically and is arranged to overlap the discharge port 136 when viewed from above. The printer 10 also has a drain container 140 located below the discharge port 136 and the through hole 113, which is capable of collecting ink dripping from the discharge port 136. According to this structure, ink falling into the ink tray 130 moves to the drain container 140 through the discharge port 136 inserted into the through hole 113. Therefore, ink only temporarily accumulates in the ink tray 130. As a result, ink spillage from the ink tray 130 is also minimized.

[0064] In this embodiment, the outlet 136 is configured as a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, extending through the through hole 113 to a position lower than the receiving portion 110. According to this structure, the ink discharged from the ink tray 130 will not scatter around the through hole 113, and the lower surface of the ink tray 130 can be prevented from becoming dirty due to scattering ink.

[0065] In this embodiment, the ink tray 130 includes a receiving portion 130A that is recessed downwards and capable of containing ink. The receiving portion 130A has a bottom portion 132 located at its lowest point and provided with a discharge port 136, and an inclined surface 133 connected to the bottom portion 132 and inclined downwards toward the bottom portion 132. According to this structure, ink falling onto the receiving portion 130A of the ink tray flows down from the inclined surface 133 and collects at the bottom portion 132, and is discharged from the discharge port 136 provided at the bottom portion 132 to the discharge container 140. Therefore, the ink is discharged quickly, and less ink remains in the ink tray 130 due to not being discharged.

[0066] In this embodiment, ink that falls onto the left half of the second inclined surface 135Rr on the rear side and the left half of the second inclined surface 135F on the front side flows into the bottom 132 via the left first inclined surface 134L. Ink that falls onto the right half of the second inclined surface 135Rr on the rear side and the right half of the second inclined surface 135F on the front side flows into the bottom 132 via the right first inclined surface 134R.

[0067] In this embodiment, the ink tray 130 includes a locking protrusion 131 formed of resin and disposed on its side. Additionally, a locking hole 112 is formed on the inner side of the storage portion 110, serving as a locking portion that engages with the locking protrusion 131. With this structure, the ink tray 130 can be fixed to the storage portion 110 by engaging the locking protrusion 131 with the locking hole 112. Since the locking protrusion 131 is formed of resin, it can be firmly fixed to the locking hole 112 by the elastic force of the resin. Resin components, for example, are prone to breakage when fixed by threaded fastening, and in some cases, re-fixing is not possible. According to the fitting-based fixing method of the locking protrusion 131 and the locking hole 112, damage to the ink tray 130 can also be suppressed. Furthermore, since the ink tray 130 is made of resin, it often warps due to internal stress during molding, but the warping can be corrected by the interlocking fixation of the engagement protrusion 131 and engagement hole 112.

[0068] The printer 10 according to this embodiment includes a cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 capable of loading and unloading a cleaning fluid cartridge C2, a wiper 51 for wiping the ink head 25, and a cleaning fluid supply passage 61 connected to a connecting portion 152 of the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150. The cleaning fluid supply passage 61 has an inlet-side end 61a connected to the connecting portion 152 and an outlet-side end 61b opening toward the wiper 51. The cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 includes a storage portion 151 for housing the cleaning fluid cartridge C2, a connecting portion 152 disposed inside the storage portion 151 and connected to the cleaning fluid cartridge C2, and a cleaning fluid tray 153 disposed inside the storage portion 151 and below the connecting portion 152. According to this printer 10, similar to the ink cartridge assembly 100, the diffusion of leaked cleaning fluid to the outside of the storage portion 151 can be suppressed.

[0069] The cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 according to this embodiment has a structure that is substantially the same as that of the ink cartridge assembly 100. Therefore, it can provide the same effects as the ink cartridge assembly 100 provides for ink when used with cleaning fluid. Alternatively, the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly 150 may have the same structure as the ink cartridge assembly 100 except for the liquid being processed (either ink or cleaning fluid). In this case, it can provide the same effects as the ink cartridge assembly 100 provides for cleaning fluid.

[0070] [Other implementation methods]

[0071] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the above embodiments are merely illustrative, and the present invention can be implemented in various other ways.

[0072] For example, in the above embodiment, printer 10 is a type of printer in which the recording medium 5 is transported on a platform 15, but the type of printer is not limited. The printer may also be a so-called platform-type printer that has a platform for carrying and moving the recording medium 5.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge C1 and the cleaning fluid container C2 are generally rectangular parallelepipeds, but they can also be other shapes. For example, the ink cartridge C1 and the cleaning fluid container C2 can also be cylindrical.

[0074] In addition, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments are not limited to the present invention. For example, the liquid tray disclosed herein may also be applied only to the ink cartridge assembly section or the cleaning fluid cartridge assembly section.

[0075] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0076] 10 inkjet printers

[0077] 25 ink heads

[0078] 25a nozzle face

[0079] 26 nozzles

[0080] 51 Wipe

[0081] 60 Wipe Cleaning Device

[0082] 61 Cleaning solution supply route

[0083] 100 Ink Cartridge Assembly Department (Assembly Department)

[0084] 110 Storage Department

[0085] 111 Insertion Port

[0086] 112 engaging hole (engaging part)

[0087] 120 connecting part

[0088] 130 Ink Tray (Tray)

[0089] 130A Containment Department

[0090] 131-card protrusion (protrusion)

[0091] 132 (bottom)

[0092] 133 inclined plane

[0093] 136 discharge outlets

[0094] 137 Support section

[0095] 140 Drainage Container (Recovery Section)

[0096] 150 Cleaning Fluid Box Assembly Department (Assembly Department)

[0097] 151 Storage Department

[0098] 152 Connecting Part

[0099] 153 Cleaning Solution Tray (Tray)

[0100] 153a discharge outlet

[0101] C1 ink cartridge (ink refill container)

[0102] C2 Cleaning Solution Cartridge (Cleaning Solution Refill Container).

Claims

1. An inkjet printer, comprising: An ink head having a nozzle face with a nozzle formed thereon; and The assembly includes a removable ink refill container or a removable cleaning fluid refill container, wherein the ink refill container contains ink ejected from the nozzle, and the cleaning fluid refill container contains cleaning fluid for cleaning the nozzle surface. The assembly unit includes: The storage section stores the ink refill container or the cleaning solution refill container; A connecting portion is disposed inside the storage portion and connected to the ink refill container or the cleaning solution refill container; and A tray is disposed inside the storage section and below the connecting section. The storage section includes: An insertion port for inserting the ink refill container or the cleaning fluid refill container; bottom surface; and The rear surface is connected to the rear end of the bottom surface and is opposite to the insertion port. The connecting portion is disposed on the rear surface of the storage portion. The tray is placed on the bottom surface of the storage section.

2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, The tray has a support portion that protrudes upward and supports the lower surface of the ink refill container or the cleaning fluid refill container.

3. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, The insertion port is located on the side of the storage section. The support extends in the insertion direction of the ink refill container or the cleaning fluid refill container, and its length in the width direction orthogonal to the insertion direction is configured to be shorter than that of the ink refill container or the cleaning fluid refill container.

4. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, The tray has a discharge port that extends vertically and allows the ink or cleaning liquid droplets to flow out. A through hole is formed on the bottom surface, which is arranged to overlap with the outlet when viewed from above and extends through in the vertical direction. It also includes a recovery unit located below the outlet and the through hole, which is capable of recovering the ink or cleaning liquid dripping from the outlet.

5. The inkjet printer according to claim 4, The outlet is configured as a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and extends through the through hole to a position lower than the receiving part.

6. The inkjet printer according to claim 4, The tray has a receiving portion that is recessed downwards and capable of containing the ink or the cleaning fluid. The containment unit is equipped with: At the bottom, at the very bottom, the discharge port is provided; and An inclined surface, connected to the bottom, slopes downward toward the bottom.

7. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, The tray has a protrusion on its side that is made of resin. A engaging portion is formed on the inner side of the storage portion to engage with the protrusion.

8. The inkjet printer according to claim 1 further comprises: Wipe the ink head with a wiping device; and The cleaning fluid supply path has a first end connected to the connecting portion and a second end facing the opening of the wiper. The cleaning fluid replenishment container is assembled in the assembly section.

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